Curly Lambeau: Building the Green Bay Packers

by Stuart Stotts

When Earl "Curly" Lambeau was a young boy growing up in Green Bay in the early 1900s, he and his friends didn't have money for a football. Instead, they kicked around a salt sack filled with sand, leaves, and pebbles. That humble beginning produced a single-minded drive for the figure whose name now graces the Green Bay Packers' stadium.

This title in the Badger Biographies series charts the course of Curly Lambeau's career as a flamboyant player and coach, which paralleled the rise of professional football in this country. Lambeau revolutionized the way football is played by legitimizing passing in a game that had previously centered on running. His dedication to popularizing football in Green Bay and in the state helped build the Packer organization into the institution it has become. Yet, he was not without flaws, and this biography presents a full picture of a man whose ambitions complicated his legacy.

Genres: Biography, Sports

96 pages, Paperback

First published August 18, 2007

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all enjoy these Badger Biographies of famous Wisconsinites. Lambeau is a well known name around here, but I knew very little about the actual man. He was more loyal to his football team than any of his three wives, but the book does a great job of presenting his accomplishments and shortcomings in a way that is accessible to kids. Can’t wait for our next one!

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

An illustrative and satisfying book about Curly Lambeau. It is possible to finish in one sitting.

[Kraig · Rating 5 out of 5]

He was funny, and lost his temper some times.